Truck for canal lining equipment



April 24, 1951 R. ZIMVMERMAN 2,549,954

TRUCK FOR CANAL mum; EQUIPMENT Filed Sept. 13, 1948 3 SheetsSheet l Hag- INVENTOR Z. R. Zimmerman Q ATTORN EYS April 24, 1951 L. R. ZIMMERMAN TRUCK FOR CANAL LINING EQUIPMENT s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1948 INVENTOR .2128. Zimmerman ATTORNEYS Apnl 24, 1951 L. R. ZIMMERMAN TRUCK FOR CANAL LINING EQUIPMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 13, 1948 zg l/ X II mm m8 Mm 8 m .m R L ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 24, 1951 TRUCKFOR CANAL LINING EQUIPMENT Leonard R. Zimmerman, San Joaquin, Calif., as-

signor to Guntert andZimmerm'an, Stockton,

Calif., a partnership Application September 13, 1948, Serial No. 49,046

4 Claims.

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, novel rail mounted, supporting and steering bolsters for the main equipment carrying frame of canal lining equipment; the present invention comprising a modification of the bolsters shown in co-pending application Serial No. 722,571, filed January 17, 1947.

A further object of the invention is to provide bolsters wherein the wheel trucks of each are adjustable laterally of the longitudinal center line of the bolster whereby to compensate for differential spacing of the bolster supporting rails extending along opposite banks of the canal.

An additional object of the invention is to provide bolsters, for the purpose described, which permit of substantial relative vertical adjustment between the same and the equipment carrying main frame so that the proper elevation of the latter may be maintained readily and without any loss of strength of the assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide bolsters which are simple in structure, but very rugged and sturdy, notwithstanding the aforementioned adjustable features thereof.

A further object of the invention is to produce practical and reliable bolsters and which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which they are designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings: 7

Figure 1 is an elevation of an equipment carrying main frame, of canal lining equipment, in position in a canal, and supported at opposite ends by the modified type of bolsters which comprise the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the bolsters.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, mainly in section, showing the vertically adjustable swivel mounting as employed in connection with each of the wheel trucks.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, each bolster is indicated generally at l, and the same are used in pairs wherein said bolsters are transversely spaced, riding rails 2 extending lengthwise along opposite banks 3 of a canal 4 which is to be lined.

The bolsters l are rigidly aflixed at opposite ends to an equipment carrying main frame 5 which extends transversely of the canal 4 in spanning relation thereto, and includes a frame ing of the canal; such equipment forming no part 1 of the present invention.

Each of the bolsters 5 includes a rigid longi-;

tudinal bolster beam l3, and opposite ends of the main frame 5 are affixed to the adjacent bolster beam 6 by upstanding and cooperating attach ment flanges I. In this'way the bolsters I are rigidly mounted on opposite ends of the main frame 5; the bolsters riding the rails 2 whereby to support and steer'said main frame 5,'together with the equipment thereon, for motion lengthwise of the canal 4.

The bolsters are each of the same construction and operation, and, therefore, a description of one will suffice for both.

Each bolster comprises in addition to the rigid longitudinal bolster beam 6, a pair of swing frames 8 which projectlongitudinally from opposite ends of said beam; the swing frames 8 being attached to the adjacent ends of the bolster beam 6 by vertical axis pivotal mounts 9, whereby said swing and each such truck includes an inverted U shaped saddle frame l i inwhich a pair of longitudinally spaced'wheels l2 are journaled; said wheels being peripherally grooved, as shown,

" for-retention on the rails 2.

The swivellymounted wheel trucks i ii each include a vertical spindle I3 fixed centrally on and upstanding from the saddle frame 5 I; such spindle slidably engaging in a vertical sleeve I4 afiixed to the corresponding swing frame 8.

The vertical spindle i3 is cut exteriorly with a heavy thread l5, and an adjustment nut 16 is threaded thereon below the swing frame 8; a thrust washer ll engaging between the adjustment nut I6 and said swing frame, whereby in any vertical position of adjustment of the spindle I3, it is free to rotate so that the related truck It) may swivel in a horizontal plane. The adjustment nut [6 includes bores I8 for the reception of an actuating bar (not shown).

The vertical spindles l3 are adjustable up or down by the following described power mechanism so that substantial, non-manual adjustment can be accomplished independently of the nut Hi.

This power mechanism comprises a fluid pres-.

a 3 7 sure actuated power cylinder l9 disposed in the sleeve l4 vertically between a cap 20 on the latter and the spindle 13., The power cylinder I9 is operated to extend, or permit contraction thereof, by means of a fluid pressure control system, shown in part at 2 I." By operation of the cylinders l9, at opposite ends of the bolsters, the relative elevation of the bolster beams 6, and consequently the adjacent ends of the main frame 5 can be readily accomplished; the adjustment nuts l6 serving to provide a fine adjustment, and a final lock which permits the load to then be removed from the said cylinders.

In any position of vertical adjustment of the spindles l3 the corresponding wheel trucks'can nevertheless freely swivel in a horizontal plane as may be necessary as the rails 2 are slowly traversed. V

Additionally, with the employment of the Swing frame 8, the rails 2 can be laid on top of the canal banks 3 without great exactitude for the ,reason that the bolster wheel trucks l9 are laterally adjustable to compensate for differential of the. spacing between the rail s,2 from bank to banlg, i. e. transversely of the canal 4.

It will be seen that regardless of the position of lateral adjustment of the swing frame 8, that the wheel trucks l swivel in a manner so as to properly follow the rails 2. The permissible latitude of differential spacing of the rails is reflected diagrammatically in Fig. 3.

7 Under working conditions it may be desirable to lock the swing frames 8 in given positions of adjustment and to this end there is provided on each swing frame 8, at the top thereof, a locking quadrant 22' having a locking arm 23 overhanging the same. Each locking arm is fixed to the bolster beam 6 by bolts 24, and the locking quadrant 22 is adjustably secured to said arm by a removable bolt 25.

With the bolster construction, the main frame Sis effectively supported from the rails 2 extending along the canal banks 3; the arrangement being such that the main frame is vertically adjustable, at either end, as working conditions may require, and the bolster structure permits the wheeltrucks [0 to freely track the rails 2 even though there be considerable differential spacing of the latter.

It should also be noted that the bolstem beams 6 can be leveled lengthwise of the direction of travel by adjusting the spindle 13 at one end to a greater extent than the spindle at the opposite end; this for thepurpose of assuring of accurate.

vertical disposition of the main frame 5 transversely of the canal 4.

While herein described as applicable to canal as described,

dining equipment, the invention may be applied in connection with any rail mounted concrete laying equipment.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

:Having thusdescribed the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired: 7

{1. In a canal lining machine which includes a transverse main frame'adapted to span the canal, a rigid bolster beam fixed to each end of the main frame, a pair of longitudinally spaced wheel trucks for each bolster beam, a mount for each truck, each mount being a swing frame pivoted atione end on a vertical axis to one end of one.

oiathe bolster beams, and one of said Wheel trucks being connected with theopposite end of each swing frame, and: means mounting the.

and each swing frame for fixing theswing frame rigid with the bolster beam in any selected position of the swing frame laterally out from the longitudinal vertical plane of the bolsterv beam.

4'. A machine as in claim 3 in which said last named means comprises a quadrant on each swing frame, an overhanging'arm on each end of each bolster beam, and means for securing the quadrant to the arm at different points along.

the length 'of the quadrant.

LEONARD R. ZIMIMERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,128,151 King et al. Feb. 9, 1915 1,546,925 Frye July 21, 1925 2,119,664 Bressi et al. June 7, 1938 Stoddard Jan. 4, 1949 

